During the tenancy

Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that every adult occupant aged 18 or over has the right to rent property in England. Right to Rent checks are carried out before the tenancy starts, and follow-up checks may be required in certain circumstances depending on your immigration status.

You must not assign or transfer your tenancy to another person without the landlord’s consent, and only those named in the tenancy agreement are permitted to occupy the property. If a named tenant wishes to leave, regardless of whether they are to be replaced, you should contact your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Tenants are responsible for day-to-day household upkeep, including general cleaning and minor maintenance tasks appropriate for normal use of the property.

This may include replacing light bulbs and fuses, keeping the property reasonably clean (including windows), maintaining the garden where required, and dealing with minor pest issues where these arise during the tenancy.

Where reasonably accessible, you should also help prevent blockages in drains and gutters. You are expected to take reasonable steps to ventilate the property to reduce condensation, such as opening windows or using extractor fans. However, landlords remain responsible for addressing any underlying structural issues that may contribute to damp or mould.

If the property includes a garden, it should be kept in a tidy and well-maintained condition throughout the tenancy.

You must not remove established trees, shrubs or existing lawns, or make significant changes to the garden without the landlord’s consent.

If you experience any issues with the structure of the property or items provided by the landlord, you should report these promptly to your landlord or letting agent so that appropriate action can be taken.

In some cases, your landlord may need to obtain quotations or arrange inspections before repairs can be carried out. You should cooperate with reasonable requests for access to allow contractors to attend. If access is arranged and cannot be provided, contractors may charge for missed appointments.

You should not instruct contractors yourself unless there is a genuine emergency which presents an immediate risk to health, safety, or the property. In other situations, unauthorised work may not be reimbursed.

Landlords are legally required to ensure that smoke alarms are installed on each floor of the property and that carbon monoxide alarms are fitted in rooms containing fixed combustion appliances, such as gas boilers or solid fuel appliances. These must be in working order at the start of the tenancy.

During the tenancy, you are responsible for regularly testing the alarms and replacing batteries where necessary. It is recommended that alarms are tested at least once a month. If an alarm is not working and replacing the batteries does not resolve the issue, you should report this to your landlord or agent without delay.

By law, landlords must ensure that gas appliances, systems and flues are checked at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You should be provided with a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate and must allow reasonable access for inspections to take place.

These obligations do not apply to appliances owned by tenants. For your own safety, it is advisable to have any personal gas appliances checked regularly by a qualified engineer.

You should obtain written permission from your landlord before carrying out any redecoration, alterations or improvements to the property.

If changes are made without consent, you may be required to return the property to its original condition at your own cost at the end of the tenancy.

If you lose your keys or access fobs, you should inform your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible.

You will usually be responsible for the cost of replacement keys and, where necessary, locksmith services. This may include replacing keys held by the landlord and, in some cases, communal access devices.

If your property is affected by a break-in or vandalism, you should report the incident to the police and obtain a crime reference number, as this is often required for insurance purposes.

You should also inform your landlord or letting agent promptly so that any damage to the property can be secured and repaired.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, all assured tenancies operate on a rolling basis and tenants can end the tenancy by giving at least two months’ notice.

From time to time, your landlord may review the rent in line with current legislation. Rent increases must follow a formal legal process. Your landlord can only increase the rent once per year, and they cannot increase it in the first year.